Knurled strip adhesive applying device



KNURLED STRIP ADHESIVE APPLYING DEVICE Filed Sept. 8, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 IN V EN TOR 20 Z 24 2 2" ankWJ/zowalfer BY Q LE ATTORNEY- Oct. 31, 1961 F. w. SHOWALTER 3,006,317

KNURLED STRIP ADHESIVE APPLYING DEVICE Filed Sept. 8, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 WV v az z x w INVENTORQ ATTORNEY- United States Patent Ofiice Patented Oct. 31, 1961 The present invention relates to a knurled strip adhesive applying device and it consists in the combinations, constructions and arrangements of parts herein described and claimed.

Generally there is provided a novel device for applying adhesive to surfaces such as, for example, the seams of envelopes. Heretofoi-e adhesive has been applied in such cases by means of a generally flat applicator or, in the case of rollers, with rollers having a smooth surface. As a result of the application of adhesive with such smooth surfaced devices, the adhesive quite often was blotched due to uneveness in the surface of either the applicator or the paper or the like to which the adhesive was applied. Again, in the old process either too much or too little adhesive was applied with the result that droplets of adhesive were squeezed beyond the area desired or, alternatively, the adhesive did not reach fully to cover the area desired. In the' present invention, the applicator which may be generally flat or which may be attached to an applicator roll, is provided with a knurled surface which, when adhesive is applied thereto by a metering roll or other means, will, when it contacts the area to which the adhesive is to be finally attached, will act to spread the same evenly over the entire area without blotching.

It is accordingly an object of the invention to provide a novel applicator for the applying of adhesive to various objects.

Another object of the invention is to provide, in a device of the character set forth, a novel surface structure for an adhesive applying device.

Still another object of the invention is to provide, in a device of the character set forth, novel means for spreading an adhesive into a layer of substantially uniform thickness.

Other and further objects of the invention will become apparent from a reading of the following specification taken in conjunction with the drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevational view, partly in section, illustrating an embodiment of the invention utilized with an applicator roll,

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken along line 22 of FIGURE 1,

FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary sectional view, greatly enlarged, taken along line 33 of FIGURE 2,

FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary plan view illustrating the manner in which adhesive is applied with the device of the present invention,

FIGURE 5 is a view similar to FIGURE 4 but illustrating certain defects in systems heretofore in use,

FIGURE 6 is a perspective view of a modification of the invention utilized in a stamping type of machine,

FIGURE 7 is a fragmentary side elevational view of a stamping type applicator utilizing the device illustrated in FIGURE 6,

FIGURE 8 is a front elevational view of the device illustrated in FIGURE 7,

FIGURE 9 is a bottom plan view, partly broken away, of the device shown in FIGURE 6, and

FIGURE 10 is a sectional view, greatly enlarged, taken along line 10-10 of FIGURE 9.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, there is shown therein, in FIGURE 1, a receptacle 10 for containing a liquid adhesive 11. A shaft 12 rotatably extends through the container 10 and has mounted thereon a feed roll 13 the lower portion of which is immersed in the adhesive 11. the container 10 adjacent the feed roll 13 whereby to remove excess adhesive therefrom as the same rotates through such adhesive.

On a shaft 15 which is adapted to rotate in' a direction opposite to that of the shaft 12 there is fixed a metering roll 16 which is in contact with the feed roll 13;

A shaft 17 which is adapted to rotate in the same direction as the shaft 12 has aflixed thereto an applicator roll 18 to the 'outer surface of which is affixed the applicator 19 forming the present invention. The outer surface of the applicator 19 is knurled, as indicated at 20a and the body of the applicator 19 is formed of a yieldable material, preferably rubber and it will be apparent that when the applicator 19 is aflixed to the outer surface of the applicator roll 18, its own outer surface will be arcuate.-

The outer surface of the applicator 19 is so positioned'as to come into contact with the surface of the metering roll upon each revolution of the shaft 17 and also is so positioned as to come into contact with the flap 20 of an envelope 21 carried by an impression roll 22 mounted upon a shaft 23, it being apparent that the shaft 23 and the impression roll 22 rotate in a direction opposite to that of the shaft 17 and roll 18. Y

In the enlarged view shown in FIGURE 3, it will be apparent that the knurling of the surface 20a will provide a multiplicity of generally pyramidal indentations 24 and that the adhesive received from the metering roll 16 upon the surface 20a, even if received thereon in an uneven manner, will be forced from one indentation 24 to another when the applicator 19 comes into contact with the area upon the flap 20 to be coated with such adhesive and that thus the entire surface of the flap will be covered with adhesive in a substantially uniform manner throughout the entire area.

Adhesive applied with the applicants device is shown in FIGURE 4 where a uniformly extending continuous layer of adhesive is applied to the entire area desired. The defects which are normal to the presently used applicators are shown in FIGURE 5 wherein blotches are shown at 25 and areas 26 are shown free of adhesive adjacent the outer edge of the flap 20 while the inner boundary 27 of the adhesive mass shows an uneven line.

In the form of the invention illustrated in FIGURES 6 to 8, inclusive, there is shown a stamping type machine generally indicated at 30 in which the envelopes to be treated are brought in a flat state beneath a vertically reciprocating member 31 carrying a generally flat applicator 32 whose exposed lower face is knurled, as indicated at 33. The operation of this device insofar as the applying of adhesive to the flap 20 is concerned, is identical with that above described with reference to the applicator 19.

In FIGURES 9 and 10 there is shown a slightly modified form of the invention wherein the applicator is provlded with a knurled applicator face indicated at 35 but which is further supplied with a dependent lip 36 which extends throughout the perimetral edge of the applicator a short distance below the lowermost portions of the knurled face 35 In this form of the invention, the lip 36 provides additional assurance against droplets of adhesive being forced beyond the desired area to which it is expected to apply the adhesive.

While but certain forms of the invention have been described and claimed it will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art that many minor modifications may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In an adhesive applying device for evenly applying A doctor blade 14 is mounted in adhesive to a predetermined areas of an envelope which comprises an applicator roll, a knurled rubber applicator aflixed to said roll and engageable with said predetermined area only, a metering roll mounted adjacent said applicator'roll, a feed rollmounted adjacent said. "meter ing roll,. an impression'roll'mounted adjacent said applicator roll, allof said: rolls being mounted for reverse" rotation: with respect to each adjacent roll respectively,

the-feed roll-rand the: applicator roll turning in one direc:

tion and the impression roll turning in the opposite di-' rectio'n,rme'ans: for applying adhesive to said feed roll whereby said adhesive is transferred from said feed roll to-said metering'roll and thus to said applicator; whereby said knurled applicator is adapted to evenly spread said adhesive in a-predetermin'ed areaon said envelope where'- bysaidadhesive is appliedin a substantially'eontinuous pattern; over. said. entire predetermined area.

'2. Anadhesive applying device for evenly applying adhesiveto an envelope in accordance withiclaini 1, said knurledw rubber applicator being provided: with a continuouspattern having a multiplicity of generally pyramidalindentations.

3. An adhesive applying device for evenly applying adhesiveto an' envelope in accordance with claim 1, said knurled rubber applicator having its outersurfa'ce provided. with a plurality of uniformly distributed relatively minute indentations, whereby predetermined quantities of adhesive material are substantially evenly trans ferred to' said predetermined area of said envelope.

4. In an adhesive applying device for applying ad- 4 hesive to an envelope which comprises an applicator; a, relatively thin body of rubbery yieldable material having a knurled outer face aflixed to said applicator, a lip formed integrally with the perimetrical edges of said body, means for transferring said adhesive to said applicator, and an impression member mounted adjacent said applicator, said rubbery yieldable material being adapted to evenly spread a layer of said adhesive with an outer surface thereof conforming in shape to the knurle'd out'er face of said applicator in a predetermined areaon said envelope. 7 7

References Cited inthe file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS OTHER REFERENCES Modern Plastics, page 217, June 1951'. 

